Integrated hydrological modelling and streamflow characterization of Gangotri Glacier meltwater

Abstract

Runoff from glaciated catchments is an integrated process that includes glacier melt, snowmelt, rainfall and surface and subsurface runoff of meltwater from glacierized and non-glacierized areas. Monitoring and quantifying the contribution of the hydrologic components (snow, ice and rain) to river discharge in the Himalayan basins is essential for decision-making in the water sector, particularly in water resources management and flood risk reduction in the region. An attempt has been made to characterize and hydrologically model streamflow (Bhagirathi River) for the Gangotri Glacier (Central Himalaya, India). A semi-distributed conceptual hydrological model is used for the streamflow modelling and assessing the major streamflow components (snow melt, glacier melt and rainfall runoff). Initially, the model was calibrated using the available in situ hydro-meteorological records for the ablation seasons of 2013–14 to 2015–16 (3 years), and further validated for the ablation seasons of 2016–17 to 2018–19 (3 years). The model performed well for all the studied years except for some months, where abrupt changes in the contrasting weather parameters (precipitation and temperature) were recorded. In the Gangotri Glacier Valley (upper Bhagirathi River catchment), snowmelt contributed the largest portion (55.5%) to total streamflow followed by glacier melt (29.7%) and rainfall runoff components (14.7%).